A Federal Court judge has blocked the release of a Chinese fugitive facing deportation to his home country, where he is accused of masterminding a massive smuggling network.
The Immigration and Refugee Board had ordered Lai Changxing released from custody until the Federal Court reviews his deportation order at a hearing next week.
But government lawyers are asking the court to overturn the IRB decision, and a judge has temporarily stayed Lai's release until he can review the immigration board ruling.
Lai's lawyer, Darryl Larson, says in a written statement that the Department of Justice wants a Federal Court hearing later this week or early next week to review the board decision.
That's in addition to a Federal Court hearing already scheduled for July 21, when Lai will challenge the federal government's conclusion that he is not at risk of being tortured or killed if sent back to China.
Lai has spent 12 years fighting his deportation to China, where he's accused of running a network that smuggled as much as $10 billion of goods while offering corrupt government officials cash, prostitutes and booze to buy his protection.
